Two debut goals: Women win first pre-season friendly against Mainz

“For many players, it was their first match after a long break – against a promoted side who were really strong in all areas and who, above all, put up a very good physical fight. In the first 25 minutes of both halves, it was an open, end-to-end encounter and we didn’t manage to gain control. However, we conceded very little from open play and created chances of our own,” said Pätzold: “The two goals scored by our new signings were valuable pluses for us and mark a positive start against a league rival. All the new signings have already shown, in certain areas, the qualities they bring and how they can enhance our team. Given the current stage of our preseason, this was a very decent friendly.”

In the first friendly of the preseason, Pätzold was able to call upon all eight new signings: Lobke Loonen, Marlene Müller, Carolin Simon and Emily Wallrabenstein were in the starting line-up, whilst Brandau, Natasha Kowalski, Paulina Platner and Sternad were on the bench. Absent from the current first-team squad were Cornelia Kramer (personal reasons) as well as Caroline Kehrer and Sofie Zdebel (both carrying knocks); Jana Lindner from the U23s was brought into the squad.

quick to react

The new Werkself line-up started on the front foot. After six minutes, Vanessa Fudalla made her mark with a long-range shot. There was danger at the other end when goalkeeper Charlotte Voll reacted quickly to tip a well-placed shot from five metres round the post (12’). Apart from these two incidents, little happened around the penalty areas. The hosts failed to capitalise on their dominance in possession. It wasn’t until the 25th minute that Loreen Bender tried her luck with a long-range shot. The ball flew just wide of the Mainz goal to the right. Shortly after that, a whipped-in cross from Simon – who was wearing the captain’s armband on her debut – found no takers in the centre. Seconds before the half-time whistle, Bender squandered another chance to open the scoring with a shot that was blocked. Simon then had a shot on goal from around 25 metres; Mainz goalkeeper Mamiko Matsumuto tipped the ball onto the crossbar, thereby preventing Bayer 04 from going into the break in the lead.

After the restart, it took ten minutes before Kowalski signalled the Werkself’s attacking intent. Apart from that, the determined visitors allowed the Black and Reds hardly any serious chances on goal. By the time a shot from Valentina Mädl was cleared for a corner, the clock had already ticked past the 76th minute. The second half then finally picked up pace. First, the visitors’ Rio Takizwawa hit the crossbar with a long-range shot; in the immediate counter-attack, Mädl beat two defenders and set up Sternad. The striker, signed from Werder Bremen, controlled the ball and slotted it into the left-hand corner from a position slightly to the right to give her side the lead (80’). Three minutes later, winger Brandau hit the side netting. Shortly before the start of stoppage time, the Dutch player did even better, heading home from a cross by Carlotta Wamser to seal the 2-0 win (90’).

coming up: Next friendly in Eindhoven

Following another week of training, the Werkself’s next friendly is scheduled for Sunday, 11 July, at 15:00 CEST. Pätzold’s side are away to PSV Eindhoven. The training camp in Rieden in the Upper Palatinate (13 to 19 July) starts two days later. Following a week off, part two of the preparations for the new Bundesliga campaign – the first matchday is to be played between 21 and 24 August – will begin on Monday 27 July.

Match stats:

Bayer 04, first half: Voll – Müller, Turanyi, Wallrabenstein, Simon – Grant, Wamser – Bender, Coskun – Loonen, Fudalla (Sternad 31’)

Bayer 04, second half: Voll (Remien 76’) – Merino Gonzalez, Friedrich, Ostermeier, Müller (Brandau 61’) - Grant (Lindner 61’/Wenger 76’), Platner – Kowalski, Fudalla (Wamser 76’) – Sternad, Mädl

Mainz 05 starting XI: Matsumoto – Kurishima, Berg, Bouziane, Bulatuvic, Imai, Donner, Pageler, Junold, Hashitani, Anstatt

Goals: 1–0 Sternad (80'), 2–0 Brandau (90')

Referee: Silja Engisch (Heinsberg)

Attendance: 160 at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre